Parker County Today December 2016 | Page 70

Mark Worthington, Member of One of PC’s Founding Families late round of billiards against Bob Hatch at the Campbell and Hatch Billiard Parlor. His brother, Wyatt, along with Frank Stilwell and Indian Charlie, were there watching him. The shooter shot Morgan Earp through the upper part of a four-pane window. Two shots were fired; one hit Earp in the right side, shattering his spine, and the other bullet went into the wall above brother Wyatt’s head. No one is sure if it was Cruz’s gun that fired the fatal shot. The second gun is a .41-caliber Colt single-action army revolver, and a beautiful example of great craftsmanship. This beautiful work of art is fully custom engraved with brass and silver, along with steer-head ivory grips. In the grips there are eyes carved out with red gems. This gun at one time belonged to western actor Tom Mix in the late 1960s, early 70s. The gun came out of a collection that held over 500 Colt single-action revolvers. DECEMBER 2016 PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY Mark Worthington became an avid gun collector over 20 years ago because of his keen interest in western history. “I’m interested in the history of the guns,” Worthington explained. “My guns don’t get shot because of how valuable they are. I keep them in an expensive safe to keep them safe from environmental elements.” With a wide assortment of guns in his large collection, there are two that he finds the most fascinating.  This Mexican-made gun was made to replicate a Smith and Wesson. The story behind it is one gun collectors love to tell. Worthington believes that this gun is possibly the gun that killed Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp’s brother, two months after the shootout at the O.K. Corral. The gun, owned by Indian Charlie, aka Floretino Cruz, was there the night Earp was killed.  History records that the youngest Earp was playing a 68 Photos by Steve Schillio